Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7386408 | Parallel kinematic machine, calibration method of parallel kinematic machine, and calibration program product A parallel kinematic machine has a parallel kinematic mechanism including an end effecter and a parallel link mechanism. A numerical control device controls a position and orientation of the end effecter based on kinematics of the parallel kinematic mechanism. A pos... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7350310 | Articulating device Disclosed is a method of moving an articulating mechanism (22,410) for a measuring device, comprising the steps of: releasing two bodies (14,16, 410a,410b) which form the articulating mechanism allowing relative movement thereof; m... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7322121 | Device for checking chamfers and radii A device for checking the chamfer and/or radius of a corner of an object includes a housing having a pair of right angled surfaces at one end thereof for placement against right angled surface of the corner of the object having a chamfer or radius extending between ... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7275331 | Tool for indicating flushness of sunroof panel A tool for indicating the flushness between a vehicle body roof panel and a sunroof panel that is adjustably mounted within a sunroof opening of the vehicle body roof panel. The tool will signal a vehicle assembly operator in the event that the sunroof panel needs t... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7152336 | Tool for measuring compliance with building construction codes A tool for measuring compliance with building construction codes comprises at least one indentation having a diameter that is representative of a maximum or minimum diameter of a handrail or grab bar, as permitted by code standards. The indentation is positioned adj... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7140119 | Measurement of form of spherical and near-spherical optical surfaces Rotational motions between a displacement-measuring probe and an optical test surface define a spherical or near spherical datum surface against which measurements of the probe are taken. The probe has a measurement axis that is maintained substantially normal to th... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7032413 | Knitting needle sizing structure and method A knitting needle sizing structure and method for determining a diametrical size of a knitting needle with a plurality of knitting needle sizing wands retained by a retaining spindle with a rod with stop members disposed at opposite ends thereof wherein each knittin... | 04/25/2006 |
| 6943968 | Adjustable focusing composite for use in an optical profilometer system and method An adjustable lens is disclosed for use in an optical profilometer system. The adjustable lens includes a plurality of elements that are mutually spaced from another in a first position and provides a first focal point for an incident electromagnetic field having a ... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6901676 | Eccentric bushing inspection device A device and method are provided for inspecting an eccentric bushing having interior and exterior surfaces. The device includes a fixed roller and a pair of movable rollers disposed in a triangular configuration. The eccentric roller is disposed between the fixable ... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6449868 | Measuring apparatus for a power roller unit for a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission A measuring apparatus for a power roller unit for a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, the power roller unit having a trunnion with concentric pivot portions at opposite ends thereof, a pair of bearings disposed around the pivot portion... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6098472 | Device and method for inspection of electrical laminations A device and method are disclosed for inspecting core laminations of an electrical machine, such as an AC induction motor. The core laminations define inner diameter and outer diameter slots preferably in a predetermined orientation with respect to one an... | 08/08/2000 |
| 5657550 | Hand-held gap and contour measuring gauge A device for measuring the gap between the opposed facing surfaces of two adjacent parts, and simultaneously measuring the contour between outwardly facing surfaces of the parts. A gap measuring element is mounted to be movable along a first path relative... | 08/19/1997 |
| 5617644 | Cigar measuring device An apparatus and method are disclosed for determining the length and diameter, or ring size, of a cigar. This information, together with the manufacturer's name, permits the user to determine the size and hence the name of a particular cigar in order to f... | 04/08/1997 |
| 5551162 | Hand-held gap and contour measuring gauge A device for measuring the gap between the opposed facing surfaces of two adjacent parts, and simultaneously measuring the contour between outwardly facing surfaces of the parts. The device is preferably hand-held, and has a main body with a gap measuring... | 09/03/1996 |
| 5515614 | Device for simultaneously measuring bolt length and diameter A measuring device allows simultaneous determination of the length and diameter of elongated fasteners such as bolts, screws and the like. The device has a body member with a plurality of variously-sized holes extending from a gauge surface. The body memb... | 05/14/1996 |
| 5426862 | Panel-testing apparatus A panel testing apparatus for measuring the curvature of an inner surface, the thickness of an edge portion, and the thickness of a center portion of the panel comprises a lifting device for accepting and transporting the panel to a testing position, and ... | 06/27/1995 |
| 5313714 | Instrument for measuring dimensions of a can seam portion An instrument for measuring dimensions of a can seam portion including a criterion measuring pin, a linear gauge provided with a measuring spindle which is so supported as to be movable along a straight line L in the direction of approaching said criterio... | 05/24/1994 |
| 5257460 | Machine tool measurement methods A core 4 is mounted on a machine tool for indexable rotation about an axis 2A, so as to bring respective cassettes 10 into position where they can be operated on by tools held in the machine tool spindle 6. The cassettes 10 may hold workpieces 14,14A for ... | 11/02/1993 |
| 5185935 | Method and apparatus for separation measurement and alignment system The method and apparatus for controlling the displacement of a steerable driven trailing machine with respect to a leading machine by measuring the separation between the machines and inputting such measurement to the trailing machine drive control, and m... | 02/16/1993 |
| 5151870 | Apparatus and method for determining a center and measuring with reference thereto An object is positioned in fixed relation to a measuring axis without regard to centering the object on the axis and at least one series of data samples correlated to the distance between the measuring axis and a series of points located at angularly spac... | 09/29/1992 |
| 5095634 | Instrument for simultaneously measuring a succession of cylinder bores A probe is an elongated tube with sensors positioned to match the cylinder bores with respect to number and distance apart and having radially projecting contact pins. When employed as intended, the probe rotates and slides back and forth in stationary be... | 03/17/1992 |
| 5068973 | Multipoint measuring system with measuring mechanism for fast exchanging of chucking appliance and automatic material withdrawal A multipoint measuring system with measuring mechanism for fast exchanging of chucking appliance and automatic material withdrawal, comprises several slide guides arranged respectively at two side plates to use the three dimensional space to build several... | 12/03/1991 |
| 5050112 | Specimen coordinate automated measuring machine/fiducial automated measuring machine The Specimen coordinate Automated Measuring Machine (SCAMM) and the Fiducial Automated Measuring Machine (FAMM) is a computer controlled metrology system capable of measuring length, width, and thickness, and of locating fiducial marks. SCAMM and FAMM hav... | 09/17/1991 |
| 5022161 | Plate fin collar gauging apparatus An apparatus for gauging the height and outer diameter of a collar in a heat exchanger plate fin. The apparatus comprises a vertically displaceable carriage overhanging a base on which a plate fin can be mounted for measurement. On the carriage are mounte... | 06/11/1991 |
| 4970799 | Device for measuring a shaft keyway and method of using A device for measuring the centering, parallelism, and perpendicularity of the side walls of a keyway to the centerline of the keyway in a shaft is described. The preferred embodiment of the device includes a micrometer slidingly attached to the device, a... | 11/20/1990 |
| 4934062 | Apparatus for checking the axial dimensions of workpieces An apparatus for checking the overall lengths of workpieces or the lengths of portions of workpieces, particularly shafts or the like, includes a base in the form of a profiled rod (12). The base has two clamping faces (18, 20) which are oriented at a rig... | 06/19/1990 |
| 4862596 | Apparatus for measuring size of seamed portion of cans An apparatus for simultaneously measuring at least the width and thickness of a seamed portion of a can at the same point on the seamed portion. The apparatus comprises a measurement base for receiving the seamed portion of the can thereon, and a referenc... | 09/05/1989 |
| 4753013 | Article profile checker A fastener (100) slides down a tube (12) onto one end of a channel (16) formed in a V-shaped block (14). Movement of the fastener (100) along the channel (16) is retarded by two fingers (20, 26). A blade (38) moves along a slot (18) in the bottom of the c... | 06/28/1988 |
| 4612622 | Probe for coordinate measuring machine The spherical shaped probe for a coordinate measuring machine is modified by incorporating a pair of rods mounted in recesses formed in the center of the sphere at a side and bottom to define a straight edge whose measurement is equal to the sphere's radi... | 09/16/1986 |
| 4606130 | Apparatus for monitoring the diameters and axial positions of workpieces in machine tools A plain grinding machine wherein the gauges which are used to monitor the diameter and the axial position of a workpiece constitute a unitary apparatus with one or two first sensors which can be moved linearly at right angles to the axis of the workpiece ... | 08/19/1986 |
| 4599801 | Portable gage instrument for use in performing precision multiple dimension measurements A portable precision measuring gage device for permitting rapid measurement of multiple dimensions of a work piece. The device includes a base, a plurality of guides held in an aligned position and a plurality of slides at least one of which is associated... | 07/15/1986 |
| 4598483 | Apparatus and method for verification of jacket for floppy disk Apparatus and a method for verifying that the various dimensions and shape of the jacket for a floppy disk are correct and within predetermined tolerance ranges. The apparatus of the present invention includes instruments for determining the warpage of th... | 07/08/1986 |
| 4464841 | Dimension board for cutsize paper A dimension board for gauging the dimensions of cutsize paper with holes includes a generally planar measurement surface, first and second guides attached to the measurement surface and having respective first and second abutment surfaces intersecting the... | 08/14/1984 |
| 4454656 | Minimum chord gauge A gauge for measuring the chord length across an airfoil at a plurality of locations along the span is disclosed. Concepts ensuring accurate measurement notwithstanding deviations of the airfoil contour from design conditions are discussed. Floating gauge... | 06/19/1984 |
| 4413418 | Measuring apparatus An apparatus is provided for measuring the axial and radial runout of a peripheral groove formed in a pulley. The apparatus includes a base from which an upright rotating spindle projects. The spindle removably accommodates the pulley. A frame is adjustab... | 11/08/1983 |
| 4412385 | Gauge for checking features - like linear dimensions - of a mechanical piece An automatic gauge for checking diameters of holes of a mechanical piece comprising plug gauges having protection nosepieces adapted to enter into the holes, a slide carrying the plug gauges, and a hydraulic device for displacing the slide; the contact be... | 11/01/1983 |
| 4393717 | Apparatus for testing medicinal tablets Apparatus for testing medicinal tablets for thickness, diameter and hardness wherein there is a support for receiving and supporting tablets for testing one at a time, a gauge movable relative to the support to measure the thickness, a gauge movable relat... | 07/19/1983 |
| 4380295 | Automatic drill deburring and sorting machine Drills (35), vertically oriented in a row/column array in a drill block (31), are moved in the column direction across a slot (49) located at a loading station (41). As the drills in each partially or fully occupied row reach the slot and drop, drill bloc... | 04/19/1983 |
| 4374459 | Classification instrument A classification instrument adapted for accurately measuring both blocked and open flow area for airfoil or vane elements such as turbine stator vanes having mounting buttresses at each end includes stops for mounting the vane element upon the instrument ... | 02/22/1983 |
| 4333239 | Method and apparatus for inspecting shrouds of rotor blades A fixture 39 for positioning shroud 22 of a rotor blade 14 with respect to an apparatus for inspecting the blade is disclosed. The fixture is formed of a base 42, locater means 40 attached to the base, first and second references 44, 46, a second locater ... | 06/08/1982 |
